CAPS Independent Advocacy

23/02/2026

Bookings are now open for the third and final CAPS Independent Advocacy Veterans' Voices event.

As an Alliance member, CAPS' role is to ensure that the voices of as many veterans as possible are heard and amplified in the design and delivery of the work of the Alliance.

This session will create space for open discussion around transition, access to services, and what meaningful support should look like in practice.

As veterans, your voice and perspective matters, and will help to inform the work of the SVWA and its members.

Booking is required as lunch is provided - https://svwa.org.uk/event/veterans-voices-working-together/

19/02/2026

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍ LGBTQIA+ Zine-Making Workshop ✂

All LGBTQIA+ adults were once LGBTQIA+ children. In this event you’ll take inspiration from your lived experience of growing up, to make a zine to pass on to the next generation. We will scan your zine and distribute it as a resource for young people or people who work with young people. This can be anonymous if you prefer. It will be a relaxed afternoon of intergenerational q***r solidarity and an opportunity to explore your experiences through the art of zine-making!

Date: Saturday 28th February, 2 to 4 pm
Venue: Duncan Place Community Hub, 4 Duncan Pl, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8HW

Email angharad@capsadvocacy.org

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lgbtqia-zine-making-workshop-tickets-1983247534764?aff=oddtdtcreator



[Image description: the above wording plus images of collage materials and scissors, a pride flag and the CAPS LGBTQIA+ advocacy logo.]

16/02/2026

✊💙The People’s Conference brings together people with experience of mental health issues to discuss what’s important to them. The 2025 conference was about human rights and the report from the conference has now been published!

Conference attendees said that it was important to have a say in services and development, to support the realisation of people’s human rights. They recognised that Collective Advocacy provides this opportunity. They also felt prevention rather than reaction was very important in mental health. Others discussed human rights specifically in psychiatric hospital. People talked about compulsory treatment, detention, capacity and consent all being linked to human rights. There were many other discussions and opinions shared (and a 'laughter yoga' session!) – download the report to find out more.

Download:https://capsadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PC-2025-Report-draft.pdf



[Image descriptions:
1 “Which of the rights set out in the Human Rights Act do people with mental health issues feel are most relevant to their experiences or lives?” with a photo of people sitting around a table and question marks.

2 “At the People’s Conference last year, people with mental health issues asked this question.

They said that the rights with the most relevance to their lives were article 10-freedom of expression and article 3- freedom from torture or inhuman treatment.” With a photo of people sitting around a table.

3 “The People’s Conference brings together people with experience of mental health issues to discuss what’s important to them. The 2025 conference was about human rights and the report from the conference has now been published! Download it to find out more about how human rights intersect with mental health issues and Collective Advocacy.” and “People’s needs might change but their rights never do!” in a speech bubble

11/02/2026

02/02/2026

🎉Launching Community Voices’ drop-ins services report🎉

🤩Community Voices Collective advocacy group invite you to join the launch of their new report into drop-in services in Edinburgh.

How can we preserve these spaces for our communities?💙

The report was created by Community Voices - a Collective Advocacy group of people with lived experience of mental health issues, in response to shared concerns about the provision of drop-in services. Over 100 people responded to the survey to share their views on community drop-in services. Our findings are very clear – these services are important to people in Edinburgh and have an impact on people’s wellbeing and mental health.

📆In-person event - Tuesday 17th February, 2 to 4 pm 📍at SMCRC Dalry. Link to rsvp here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/more-than-just-a-cuppa-in-person-tickets-1981573157657

📆There will be an online event on Tuesday 24th February. Link to rsvp here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/more-than-just-a-cuppa-online-tickets-1981573772496

Find out more about the report here: https://capsadvocacy.org/news/more-than-just-a-cuppa/
Thank you to all the people who contributed to this research.

This event is open to anyone, including members of the public, service staff and volunteers and decision makers. As part of our Collective Advocacy work, this will be a non-judgemental space which prioritises voices of lived experience.

Southside Community Centre



[Image descriptions:1 Are community drop-ins just a place for a cuppa and a chat? How can we preserve these spaces for our communities? Come along to the launch of a new report’ With an image of five smiling people seated around a table.

2 ‘We are holding launch events to share the recent report on drop-in services in Edinburgh. The report was created by Community Voices - a Collective Advocacy group of people with lived experience of mental health issues, in response to shared concerns about the provision of drop-in services.’ With an image on a projected screen that reads ‘Edinburgh Mental Health Collective Advocacy‘

3 ‘In-person launch event on Tuesday 17th February, 2 to 4 pm at SMCRC Dalry.
Online launch event on Tuesday 24th February 11 to 12.30’ with an image of leaflets on a table.]

21/01/2026

🙏🌟Collective Advocacy participants came from far and wide yesterday to tell Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, about the value of Collective Advocacy. Thank you to SIAA and Voices Of eXperience (VOX) , the Minister and everyone else involved for an important and inspiring event. Collective Advocacy is ‘the only place where people facing the deepest inequalities find their voice’.

[Image description: 1. Tom Arthur MSP sitting speaking with a number of people around a table.
2. Part of the graphic illustrator, Jenny Capon's, drawing - a sketch of a person with speech bubble that says ’the only place where people facing the deepest inequalities find their voice’.]

13/01/2026

👀🌟Do you want to learn about Mad History whilst looking at unique collections from the Lothian Health Services Archive ?

There’s two spots left on this free five-week community Mad Studies course based in the University of Edinburgh.
📆Date: The course will start on Tuesday 27th January 2026 and then run on Tuesdays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th February.
📍Place: University of Edinburgh.
Who it’s for: people with experience of mental health issues.

How to register: get in touch with Azra on azra@capsadvocacy.org.
Five weeks of learning, discussion and community building. Please make sure you are able to attend every session.

If you want to join, then please send a message to azra@capsadvocacy.org with a little bit about yourself and why you want to come on the course.
Or sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-understanding-oor-mad-history-course-2026-tickets-1977872834892?aff=oddtdtcreator

[Image description: Understanding Oor Mad History
A free five-week community Mad Studies course based in the University of Edinburgh
The course starts on Tuesday 27th January and runs on Tuesdays 3rd February, 10th February, 17th February, 24th February 2026, only two spots left!
with an image of craft materials and pair of scissors.]

06/01/2026

🌟🤩We’re reaching out to ask if you would be able to help us by becoming a member of CAPS. The more members we have, the stronger the voice of people with mental health issues will be. Joining costs nothing and it only takes a minute to sign up ✏. Any individual living in Scotland aged 16 or over who is in agreement with the purposes of CAPS can apply to be a member. You can find out more about membership and our purposes on our website. There are no time commitments but you would help our work simply by joining, you could also play an important role voting for Management Committee members and any changes to the constitution at our AGM each year. Join now! 💙



Norton Park Business and Conference Centre Lothian Health Services Archive Of eXperience (VOX) iThrive Edinburgh

[Image description: Happy New Year! Want to support CAPS in 2026?
Becoming a member costs nothing
and the more members we have, the stronger the voice of people with mental health issues will be!]

18/12/2025

Wishing you all the very best for the festive season from everyone at CAPS! See you in the new year!

[Image description: a card with the words: ‘Season’s Greetings’ and a photograph of several people wearing orange t-shirts – the Out Of Sight Out of Mind exhibition team 2025.]

17/12/2025

Free five-week community Mad Studies course based in the University of Edinburgh

15/12/2025

✨🤩We are delighted to announce that the Understanding Oor Mad History course will be returning in January 2026!

Join us for a free five-week community Mad Studies course based in the University of Edinburgh.

📆Date: The course will start on Tuesday 27th January 2026 and then run on Tuesdays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th February.

📍Place: University of Edinburgh.

Who it’s for: people with experience of mental health issues.

How to register: get in touch with Azra on azra@capsadvocacy.org.
Five weeks of learning, discussion and community building. Please make sure you are able to attend every session.

Week 1: Introduction: What is Oor Mad History?
Week 2: The History of Confinement and Treatments
Week 3: Madness, Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality
Week 4: Activism Then and Now
Week 5: Arts as Advocacy

How do I get a place on the course?

If you want to join, then please send a message to azra@capsadvocacy.org with a little bit about yourself and why you want to come on the course.

Or sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-understanding-oor-mad-history-course-2026-tickets-1977872834892?aff=oddtdtcreator



Lothian Health Services Archive Voices Of eXperience (VOX) iThrive Edinburgh

[Image descriptions: 1 Understanding Oor Mad History

A free five-week community Mad Studies course based in the University of Edinburgh

The course starts on Tuesday 27th January and runs on Tuesdays 3rd February, 10th February, 17th February, 24th February 2026’ with an image of craft materials and pair of scissors.

2 “Some of my best learnings and memories.” With an image of people standing around a table chatting. The Lothian Health Services Archive logo and Oor Mad History project logo.

3 “I learned more about myself from hearing from people who had similar experiences.” With an image of craft materials. ]